Organizations and Grassroots Groups Fighting CAFOs

Friends of the Central Sands- Friends of the Central Sands is a 501(c)(3) Wisconsin based organization working to promote a health Central Sands landscape through natural resource stewardship, community involvement, scientific knowledge and advocacy. FOCS has been instrumental in the legal fight against the Richfield CAFO and resulting ground water pumping across the state. FOCS is located in Coloma (Waushara County) but also serves all or parts of Adams, Portage, Marquette, Shawano, Marathon and Waupaca counties

Crawford Stewardship Project - Works to protect the environment of Crawford County from threats such as those posed by concentrated animal feeding operations (CAFOs) and to promote sustainable land use, local control of natural resources, and environmental justice.

Emerald Clean Water for All - A grassroots citizen group of farmers and concerned residents who are working to protect the health and safety of St. Croix County from CAFO's.

Farms Not Factories - Farms Not Factories advocates for the protection and stewardship of the land, air and water in the Lake Superior Basin by promoting policies which support environmentally sound and socially responsible agriculture.

Green County Defending Our Farmland - GCDF's goal is to protect the health and safety of Green County residents through research and education of the environmental and economic impacts of CAFO's on rural communities.

Grassland Butter Boycott - A grassroots group of farmers and concerned citizens who are working to protect the health and safety of Dunn County from CAFOs.

Protect Wood County and its Neighbors - PWC is an established and growing group of passionate, informed, and determined individuals whose sole mission is to preserve and protect the environment and quality of life they value from being negatively affected by the Wysocki Family of Companies' proposed Golden Sands Dairy CAFO.

Family Farm Defenders - FFD's mission is to create a farmer-controlled and consumer-oriented food and fiber system, based upon democratically controlled institutions that empower farmers to speak for and respect themselves in their quest for social and economic justice. To this end, FFD supports sustainable agriculture, farm worker rights, animal welfare, consumer safety, fair trade, and food sovereignty.

Socially Responsible Agriculture Project - educates the public about the problems caused by factory farms, works to help communities protect themselves from the devastating impacts of these facilities while, at the same time, providing help and guidance for those who are trying to reclaim agriculture by producing and marketing sustainable agricultural goods.

Citizens' Water Coalition of Wisconsin- CWCWI believes water is the common ground among grass-roots groups opposing frac sand mining, other mining, pipelines, high capacity wells, easing of shoreline zoning rules and CAFOs across Wisconsin. They've joined forces in order to unify their voices and strategically focus on what is needed — elected officials who are willing to stand up and fight for citizens' rights to clean water.

Central Sands Water Action Coalition - The goal of CSWAC is to advance sustainable groundwater policies in a six county region in Central Wisconsin. The coalition was formed due to the proliferation of high capacity well use in the Central Sands region, which has resulted in a growing number of lakes, streams and wetlands becoming dry or nearly dry due to excessive pumping.

Clean Water Action Council of Northeast Wisconsin - Clean Water Action Council is an environmental advocacy group that has fought for environmental protection in northeast Wisconsin since 1985. Our organization is led by a board of directors and composed of hundreds of eco-minded members.

Midwest Environmental Advocates - provides high quality legal services that support a multicultural, grassroots social movement; build local leadership; and implement innovative solutions to environmental problems.

Clean Wisconsin - Clean Wisconsin protects Wisconsin´s clean water and air and advocates for clean energy by being an effective voice in the state legislature and by holding elected officials and polluters accountable.

Mississippi Valley Conservancy - a regional, non-profit land trust based in La Crosse, Wisconsin that has permanently conserved over 13,500 acres of blufflands, prairies, wetlands, and streams in the Mississippi River Valley since its founding in 1997. MVC works with private landowners and local communities on voluntary conservation projects in seven counties along the Mississippi River. The counties include Buffalo, Trempealeau, Jackson, La Crosse, Monroe, Vernon, Crawford, Richland and Grant County.

The Cornucopia Institute - The Cornucopia Institute, through research and investigations on agricultural and food issues, provides needed information to family farmers, consumers and other stakeholders in the good food movement and to the media. We support economic justice for the family-scale farming community – partnered with consumers – backing ecologically produced local, organic and authentic food.

Food and Water Watch - Food & Water Watch champions healthy food and clean water for all. We stand up to corporations that put profits before people, and advocate for a democracy that improves people’s lives and protects our environment.

Sierra Club WI - Wisconsin's voice for the nation's oldest, largest and most influential grassroots environmental organization.

Valley Stewardship Network - a locally based, funded, and managed non-profit organization comprising neighbors and friends of the Kickapoo Valley. VSN's primary goal is to promote a balance between a healthy environment and strong communities. It works cooperatively with other area groups interested in water quality, sustainable forestry, support of family farming, resource conservation and economic development.

Trout Unlimited - mission is to conserve, protect, and restore America's coldwater fisheries and their watersheds. Wisconsin Trout Unlimited supports this mission at the local and state level with an extensive and dedicated volunteer network consisting of 21 chapters and more than 4,000 members.

Wisconsin Democracy Campaign - a nonpartisan watchdog group working for clean, open and honest government and reforms that make people matter more than money in politics.

Wisconsin Farmer's Union - is at the forefront of promoting legislative concepts and ideas, educating youth, members and the general public and promoting the ideals of cooperative efforts to achieve its goals and positively affect the general welfare of family farms in Wisconsin.